Valve spring lifter



Sept. 27, 1932. H, W, KULP E1' AL g 1,879,330

VALVE SPRI NG LIFTER Filed Jan. 11, 1929 40 members of the Patented Sept. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT yori-Ical HARRY W. KULP AND MARTIN C. DELLINGER, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIAr VALVE SPRING LIFTER Application med January 11, 192e. seriaiN. 331,773.

This invention relates to valve-spring lifters or compressors ofthe one-hand-operated substantially parallel-jaw plier type, such as shown in Patent N o. 1,330,542 granted February 10, 1920 to Harry W. Kulp.

Broadly speaking, this invention has in view a tool of this type wherein the jaws may be adjusted to suit the size of the valvestem, the spring retaining washer or cup,

the tappet, and other elements, permitting the use of the tool on a great range of different engines wherein are found a wide range of sizes of the above mentioned elements and under a wide range of conditions;

to provide a sturdy durable tool of this type braced against transverse strain; and to provide a special form whereby the valve-springs of low port engines may be easily and quickly raised, the upper jaw fitting `behind the port iange and moving upward beyond the upper edge thereof as the jaws are spread to lift the spring.

- Further objects are, to provide a construction wherein the j aw-beam elements and the hand-levers and leverarms overlap and are in snug interlapped relation effectively preventing any transverse twisting about the several pivotal points due to side strains or lost motion such as might be present after 3o considerable use; to provide a construction wherein the portions of the jaw-beams eX- tending beyond the leverarms will bear all pushing strains in an edgewiseV direction, wherein they are substantially rigid, and will be braced against bending as av unitin a transverse direction; to provide simple means for maintaining the interlapped parts parallel and properly spaced; to provide simple eiicient means for relativelyadjusting the respective jaw-beams, and to provide a construction facilitating easy, rapid and etlicient assembly.

In this application we show and describe only the preferred embodiment of our invention as manufactured and sold by us simply by way of illust-ration of the practice of our invent-ion as by law required. However, we realize that our invention is capable of other and different embodiments,- and that the varous details thereof may be modified in a extending through said bars number of diHerent ways, all without departing from -our said invention. Therefore, the drawing. and description herein are to be considered as merely illustrative and notas exclusive. f

In the accompanying drawing made to scalefrom an actual commercial article:

Figure 1 representsa side elevation, made two-thirds of actual size, of avalve spring lifter embodying our invention, the jaws being open;

Figure 2, a top planv view, made actual size, thereof; Y

Figure 3,'a bottom size, thereof;

Figure 4, a view similar to, and on the same scale as, Figure 1, the jaw being closed; and Figure 5, a sectional view, made actual' size, taken on line 5 5 of Fig. in the direction of the arrows.

plan view, made full Referring now in detail to the drawing,

land 2 represent the respective hand-levers preferably formed of sheet metal and being 1 and looking U-shaped in cross-section and having cooperl ing forward beyond said pivotal point an equal distance.

The forward end of each lever-arm and Z2 is transversely perforated parallel to, and equi-distant from, the axis of the pivot pin 3and the arms 1 and 2 are respectively transversely perforated parallel to,'and equidistant from, the axis of the pivot pin 3to respectively receive pins 8 and 9 respectively.

The upper jaw-beam comprises two long plates, elements or bars 5 respectively applied flat against the respective side faces ofthe lever-arm b and the side faces of hand-lever 2 and connected together at their medial portions, and pivotally yconnected to the intervening upper lever-arm b by pivot p'in 7 5 and the per? foration inthe upper end portion of upper lever-arm band having its ends upset, riveted over or spread as usual, and have their rear end portions connected together and sli'dably pivotally connected to the interposed handlever 2 by a pivot pin 9 passing through slot-s 11 in the rear end portions of said bars or elements 5 and through the perforation in the interposed portion of said hand lever 2, the ends of said pivot pin 9 being similarly riveted over, upset or spread as usual.

The lower aw-beain straddles and crosses the upper jaw-beam and comprises 'two long plates, elements or bars 4 respectively spaced apart from the respective side faces of the lower lever-arm b by washers 14 respectively corresponding in thickness to the respective elements 5 and from the respective side faces of upper hand lever 1 by means preferably such as lugs 16 respectively integral with the respective elements 4 and protruding transversely from the same a distance equal to the thickness of the respective elements 5 and presented toward, and engaging with, the respective side facesof said hand-lever 1.

A pivot-pin 6 passing through the medial portions of the elements 4, .the `perforation in the interposed lever-arm b and the intervening washers 14 and having its ends riveted over, upset or spread as usual serves to connect the medial portions of said elements 4 to each other in proper spaced relation and to pivotally connect the medial portions of both of said elements 4 to said lower leverarm Zi, and a pivot-pin 8 passing through slots 10 in the rear portions of the elements 4 and the perforation in the interposed portion of .the upper hand-lever 1 serves to connect the rear portions of said elements 4 to each other in proper spaced relation and to slidably pivotally connect said rear portions of said elements 4 to the hand-lever v1.

Y The lever-arm b and hand-lever 1 are rigid with each other, being preferably integral as shown, the lever arm b and hand-lever 2 are likewise rigid with each other, being preferably integral as shown, and the lever-arm b and Z2Y and the adjacent portions of the hand-levers 1 and 2 to a point to the rear of where the lugs 16 engage the hand-lever 1 are respectively of the same uniform width, as illustrated in Figures v2 and 3, so that, as assembled, their respective side faces will lie in the same parallel planes.

From the foregoing description it will be noted that the elements 5 of the upper jawn beam are respectively parallel to, and in contact with, the respective side faces of the upper lever-arm b and the adjacent portion of the lower hand-lever 2 to the rear of pivot pin 3 and held thereto against spreading by the enlarged ends or heads of the pins 7 and 9, the contact being` such, however, asto permit sliding movement between said elements 5, upper lever-arm b and lower hand-lever 2 to compensate for the different relative positions of the jaw-beams and handlevers and held rigid with each other against relative movement, and likewise, that the elements 4 of the lower jaw-beam are respectively parallel to, and laterally spaced from, the lower lever-arm Z9 and the adjacent portion of upper hand-lever 1 to the rear of the pivot 3, and to, and in sliding contact with, the outer faces of the respective elements 5, and are held in such relative positions against lateral spreading by the enlarged ends or heads of the pivot pins 6 and 8.

The foregoing construction results in a very efficient interrelation and cooperative bracing of the elements 4 and 5, lever-arms Z) rand b and handelevers 1 and 2 against twisting or side strains and lost-motion, resulting in a very sturdy and durable sheet metal tool.

The portion of each element 5 between the pins 7 and 9 extends preferably in a straight line, as shown, extending in a slanting line from the pin 9 upward and forward to the pin 7 in the upper portion of the lever-arm from which point it is downwardly offset in a gentle upward curve to the jaw element or portion 13, which comprises a flat bottom d part to bear against and raise and support the bottom of the usual spring retaining cup, and `a curved vertical flange or wall to bear against the outer face of the retaining cup and the lower end portion of the valve-spring as usual.

The elements 5 are of resilient inetal, preferably tempered steel, and extend freely beyond the end of the upper lever-arm b with between them for a disnothing interposed tance approximately equal to the distance between the pin 7 and their rear ends, whereby they may be bent or sprung to cause their outer end portions, including the jaw-portions 13, to move toward each other or released to permit said jaw-portions to move away from each other, whereby the relative lateral positions of said jaw-portions 13 may be adjusted to suit a wide range of sizes of s,

springs, retaining cups, valve-stems etc.

By downwardly offsetting the elements 5 adjacent the end of the upper lever-arm Z; and continuing them on a gentle upward curve the jaw-portions 13 are disposed in a higher plane than the rest of the upper j aw-beam, while retainingthebenelit of a long lever arm and permitting the jaw portions 13 of the upper jaw-beam to be moved close to the cooperating lower jaw-portions 12 in a vertical direction for initial applicaton of the tool, and because of their upper curved out* line may be spread or raised to force the jawportions 13 upward behind the upper port flange to raise the valve-spring to the desired point, the upper edge of. the port opening being received in the curve defined by the upper edges of the elements 5.

The elements 4 each has a straight portion similar to the straight portions of the ele- ,j

jacent the lower end of lower lever-arm b on a gentle curve to accommodate the corresponding portion of the corresponding element 5 to permit the parts to be moved to compact closed position, as illustrated in Fig. 1, Vand each element has its forward or free end thickened in a transverse direction and re'- duced in width in a vertical direction to form a prong, finger or jaw-portion 12, to, together with the corresponding prong, linger or jawportion 12 of the other element 4, constitute an adjustable supporting fork or jaw for span-v ning the `valve-stein and resting on the valvetappet, crank-case or other adjacent fixed element or part.

` The elements 4 will preferably be of the same material as the elements 5, andextend freely beyond the lower end of lower leverarm b with nothing interposed between them and are capable of relative transverse adj ustment in the same manner and to the same degree as are said elements 5.

To adjust the free end portions of elements 5 with the jaw-portions 13 toward each other and to permit them to spread apart I provide a screw 15 extending freely through one member 5 and having its adjacent edge face of its elongated flattened enlarged head in contact with the outer lateral face .of said member and extending through the other member 5 and in screw-thread engagement therewith, said screw 15 extending-parallel to the rivet 7 and being located much closer to the jaw-portions 13 than to the pin 7 whereby a relatively long laterally resilient vertically rigid length of each member 5 interposes between the lever-arm b and the point of screw adjustment, wherebythe screw 15 mav be turned by gripping its liattened head t5 pull the members 5 toward each other by hand and without involving the permanent setting or deformation of said members 5, and whereby a reverse rotation ofthe screw 15 may be eected by hand, that is with the thumb and lingers without employing any tool, to permit the members 5 'to spring apart due to their resiliency in a transverse direction. To similarly adjust the members 4 a similar screw 15 is similarly mounted in said members 4 preferably at the same relative point, thereof.

If desired, a suitable means for locking the parts in any relative operative position may be provided, and such locking means may be such as shown, in Patent No. 1,461,275 granted July 10, 1923 to the applicants, and, as such, may comprise an arcuate rack bar A pivoted at B between the sides of lower hand-lever 2 and sliding through a vertical slot in the spring-held rocking binding catch plate C mounted in, and extending` through a suitable transverse slot in, the upper handle 1. However, the provision of a locking means, while preferable, is not essential and forms no part of our present invention.

The sliding pivotal connection of the rear portions ofthe elements 4 and 5 to the handlevers 1 and 2 respectively by means of pins such as 8 and 9 extending throughthe perforations in levers 1 and 2 and slots 10 and 11 in'eleinents 4and 5 respectively is not an essential feature of our vpresent invention, this feature being shown in the Kuip patent referred to in the opening paragraph of this specilication. It is suicient if there be provided some means lpermitting, compensatory movement of the jawbeams about their respective pivotal points 6 and 7 as said handlevers 2 and 1 are moved about their common pivotal point 3, whereby the j aw-portions 12 and 13 respective of said jaw beams will'be maintained parallel or approximately paral-` lel, and any equivalent vcompensating means such as aconnecting. link or toggle construction such as shown in the patent to Hobbs & Anderson, No. 1,614,300, or the patent to Carlson, No. 1,444,729, or the patent to Mc- Leod, No. 1,553,623, Sept. 15, 1925, or other equivalent' construction serving `this function, may be employed. Y

It is notessential thatk the upper and lower jaws shall be maintained absolutely parallel, but on the contrary tools of this type are not intended as tools of precision and due to their production on a large quantity basis by sheet metal stamping processes therev will be some variations in this regard-and in the specimen from which thedrawing wasmade the jaws are not maintained absolutely parallel throughout their range of relative movement, but on the contrary as the upper jaw moves away from the-lower jaw it tends to very slightly incline rearwardly, but this slight inclination isof no practicalimportance and no detriment, it being sufficient if such approximationjor approach to parallelism as will avoid canting the spring cup or washer Von the valve stem tosuclifdegree as to cause binding between saidva-lve-stern and retaining cup or washer is maintained.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure 'by Letters Patent is: v s 1. A valve-spring lifting tool comprising a. pair of levers pivoted together, in ,combina- Vtion with an upper jaw-beam, alower jaw- 'eral faces in sliding contact andcooperating to brace each other against twisting strains and to prevent lost motion in a transverse direction.

2. Avalve-spring lifting tool comprising a pair of levers pivoted together, in combination with an upper jaw-beam, a lower jawbeam, each jaw-beam Comprising two resilient elements substantially rigid in a vertical direction and flexible in a horizontal direction, and means for pivotally connecting both elements of each of the respective beams in their medial and rear portions to both of said levers respectively on opposite sides of their point of pivotal connection, said upper j avv-beam being downwardly offset on a gentle upward curve forwardly from its medial portion toward its free front end, said lower jaw-beam being upwardly offset on a curve from its medial portion toward its free front end, whereby the front portions of said beams may be moved closely adjacent to each other in a vertical direction, and said levers and elements of said beams having interlapped portions extending for a substantial distance of their respective lengths and having their respective opposed lateral faces substantially in sliding contactto cooperate to brace each other against twisting strains and to prevent lost-motion in a transverse direction.

3. A valve-spring lifting tool comprising a pair of levers pivoted together, in combination with an upper jaw-beam, a lower jawbeam, each beam comprising two resilient elements substantially rigid in a vertical direc-l tion and flexible in a horizontal direction, means for connecting the medial portions of the respective beams to the respective levers at equi-distant points in front of the point of pivotal connection of said levers, and means for connecting the rear portions of the elements of the respective beams to the respective levers in reverse order at equi-distant points in back of the point of pivotal connection of said levers and to permit relative end play between said rear portions of said elements and said levers respectively,

said levers and said elements of said beams having interlapped portions between the two connecting means and held by the latter in parallel relation and cooperating to brace each other against lateral and twisting strains and to prevent relative.l transverse and twisting movement.

4. In a valve-spring lifting tool comprising a pair of levers pivoted together, a jaw beam comprising two resilient elements substantially rigid in a vertical direction and flexible in ahorizontal direction, said elements respectively having portions applied flat against, and parallel to, the respective side faces of both of said levers and other portions extending freely forward beyond said levers and having their free end portions formed into cooperating jaw portions, in combination with means for securing the medial-portions of said elements to each other against the respective side faces of the intervening portion of one of said levers in front of the pivotal point of connection of said levers and pivotally to said lever, means for connecting the rear portions of said elements to each other against the respective side faces of the intervening portion of the other of said levers to the rear of said pivotal point of connection of said levers and for permitting end play between said rear portions of said elements and said other lever, both of said connecting means serving to maintain said elements and said levers in bracing contact, and means engaging said elements adjacent their free ends for adjustably drawing them t-I ward each other and permitting them to be separated.

5. In avalve-spring lifting tool comprising a pair of levers pivoted together, a jaw-beam comprising two resilient elements substantially rigid in a vertical direction and flexible in a horizontal direction, said elements respectively extending across and parallel and adjacent to the respective side faces of both of said levers and having portions extending forward beyond said levers and having their free end portions formed into cooperating jaw portions, in combination with means for spacing said elements from each other in parallel relation for their portions overlapping said levers, means for pivotally connect'- ing said elements to both of said levers respectively in front and in back of their point of pivotal connection, said means permitting end play of the rear end portions of said elements relative to the lever to which said rear end portions of said' elements are connected` and means engaging said elements adjacent their free ends for relatively adjusting said free ends in a transverse direction.

6. A valve-spring lifting tool comprising a' pair of levers pivoted together, in combination with an upper jaw-beam, a lower jawbeam, means for pivotally connecting both of said beams intermediate their ends to both of said levers respectively in front of the point of pivotal connection of said levers, means engaging said beams to the rear of the point of pivotal connection of said levers to cause a predetermined movement of the free ends of said beams with relation to each other, said beams carrying jaws on their eX- treme forward free end portions and being downwardly and rearwardly curved from said jaws toward said levers, said curved portions being adapted for nesting relation when moved toward each other.

7. A valve-spring lifting tool comprising a pair of levers pivoted together, in combination with an upper jaw-beam, a lower jawbeam, means for pivotally connecting the said respective beams to the respective levers, means for controlling the movement of said beams with relation to each other about their points of pivotal connection with said levers respectively, and a jaw carried by the eX- treme front free end portion of said upper beam, said upper beam having a ooncavely curved upper surface extending rearwardly and downwardly from said jaw toward said levers.

8. A valve-spring lifting tool comprising a pair of levers pivoted together, in combif nation with an upper jaw-beam, a lower jawbeam, means for pvotally connecting the said respect-ive beams to the respective levers, means for controlling the movement of said beams with relation to each other about their points of pivotal connection with said levers respectively, and a j aw carried by the extreme front free end portion of said upper beam and in the normal operative position of the tool extending above the adjacent portions of said upper jaw-beam.

9. In a valve-spring lifting tool, a lever, a jaw-beam pivotally mounted intermediate its end portions on said lever, means engaging said beam to the rear of its point of pivotal mounting for controlling the relative positions of said beam and lever, said beam carrying a jaw portion at its forward end portion and being downwardly and rearwardly oset from immediately adjacent to said j aw portion toward the point of pivotal mounting of said beam.

l0. In a valve-spring lifting tool, a lever, a jaw-beam pivotally mounted on said lever, means connected with said beam and said lever for controlling the relative positions of said beam and lever as said beam moves about its pivotal mounting on said lever, said beam carrying a jaw portion at its forward end portion and being downwardly and rearwardly oifset from immediately adjacent to said jaw portion toward the point of pivotal mounting of said beam. i

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, this 7th day of January, 1929.

HARRY W. KULP. f MARTIN C. DELLINGER. 

